Poll

Popular content

It’s lean times at the Venue Theatre Company in Conifer, but not in the usual sense: the education-based youth theater is in short supply of space, funds and extra hands — all the consequences of success.

The way his friends tell it, Hank Alderfer should be considered for the title of “ Most Interesting Man in the World.”

Alderfer family members, friends and the Evergreen community gathered Nov. 30 at the Lake House to celebrate Alderfer’s accomplishments and contributions, as well as help launch a book of his Canyon Courier columns, titled “Yesteryear.”

On Friday night, as Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived in downtown Evergreen aboard a fire engine, dozens of children — many of them perched on their dads’ shoulders — waved in greeting. And many of the adults waved too.

The falling snowflakes caught the glow from the Christmas lights and fire pits. Somewhere in the background, someone was playing a holiday tune.

The shop in the log cabin behind The Den restaurant in Marshdale has a bit of everything — and more.

Marie St. Denis recently opened the shop as a place for local residents or those driving between Evergreen and Conifer to conveniently stop to grab eggs, milk or a quick dinner. Plus, there are locally produced candles, soaps and other items.

Early numbers for the 2016-17 academic year show a slight decrease in enrollment in Jeffco Public Schools, and those numbers are expected to drop further next year.

Some 370 fewer students are enrolled at district schools compared to this time last year. While the decrease is small considering that the district has typically served an average of more 86,000 students since the 2005-06 academic year, the decline in enrollment is expected to continue next year.

Discussions about the renewal of Superintendent Dan McMinimee’s contract are set to begin early next year. While initial conversations will take place in executive session among school board members, those conversations will transition out into public discourse, with a decision by the end of March 2017.

Effective immediately, Jeffco Public Schools has instituted a hiring freeze on almost all non-classroom positions, and all new hires will have to be approved by a district cabinet consisting of 11 people.

According to chief human resources officer Amy Weber, the cabinet last week discussed the hiring freeze, which will exclude grant-funded positions and essential positions such as teachers, para-educators, bus drivers and food service employees.

The Mountain Rendezvous Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and American Legion Post 2001 commemorated the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor on Sunday.

The ceremony included a reflection on those who died in the Pearl Harbor attack and the trials of World War II that followed. The chapter’s chaplain, Kathleen Schrader, led the group in benediction, calling to mind all those who gave their lives to defend the United States. And, American Legion member Vern Stelzer read President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s famous post-attack speech.